Letters to Darby- Mum having fun!

Dear Darby,
It was so nice to see your smiling, inquisitive face this morning! I was so glad I was able to Skype you! I was sitting in the back corner of the local Internet cafe.. Tears were streaming down my face when I saw your little face! I'm surprised I was able to put together a sentence that made sense! I'm sure a few people turned their heads to look at the crazy woman at the back!  I heard about all the cool things you have been doing with your grandma and grandpa! 

Today was another full on Mauritian experience, with so many activities to do! 

We took a long long bus ride and  visited some natural wonders, a magnificent gorge with views so far you could see the ocean... we then stopped and ogled at the waterfall  that stretched all the way down the cliff face... all such great photo opportunities! 

Next we went to the 7 coloured earths.. a phenomenon where a part of the world has sand of  7 different colours - purple, black, red, orange - it was something like I have never seen! 

I think though you would have loved the tortoises, we could touch there hard shells and funny scrunchy faces! 

After that we stopped at a Rum Distillery.. the surroundings were beautiful and I cant wait to show you photos of it when we get home! Here we were shown how Rum is made, something you won't care for much now.. but probably will later in life! 

Even Mum tried some through gritted teeth! Although some of the flavoured ones were really nice! And as a cocktail, were very easy to drink! 

Needless to say our group of 18 got rather rowdy after this! We had lunch in the adjoining restaurant where we ate some of the best food we have eaten! It is amazing to think a three course meal with drinks was 1000 rupees - which really is Australian $40...... we gave them a massive tip at the end as the service was wonderful! 

I had a couple of cocktails which were very yummy... I really felt in holiday mode, a flower behind my hair, a cocktail in my hand! I really felt like I was on holidays! I really was having fun! It was a great experience!

We took the much  quieter bus ride home.. most people were napping, including myself!  When we got back to the bungalow I packed up my belongings... We were going to the Hilton! 

This place was super swanky... I  felt like I was in the movie Cocktail... except there was no young, before crazy Tom Cruise making my drinks!! I can only hope!!   Elisha and I checked into our room and headed to the spa for our pedicures!! This was pure indulgence Darbs...  So relaxing.... 

I felt like an early night after that and besides it was the big wedding day the next day so we needed as much beauty sleep as we could get! 

Wish I could take you to this place.. maybe one day soon... you would love it! 

Better go as I am rambling on and my session at the Internet cafe would be costing a fortune!! (In Mauritius rupees that is!!) 

Hope I get to speak again soon and I promise I won't blubber as much! I am now realising how far away I am from you.... and how long it will be till I get to hug you again (I am blubbering writing this!) 

Lots and lots of hugs and kisses and more hugs and kisses....  

Mum xxxxxx ooooo xxxxxx

Holiday Memories...

Don't you just love it when something reminds you of a holiday, transports you back to a place or  moment just from the smell, taste or from hearing something! Our senses are fascinating beasts....storing all this information to tap into from time to time.. Its like a camera for the senses...... 

Its been over 11 years since I first went overseas to Ireland... I went as a fresh faced red headed 21 year old as a chaperone to my 50 year old Uncle.. (What an odd couple we looked like!!)  I have certain smells and songs  that brings my Irish road trip back to life - and no its not the smell of Guiness or Baileys.. (although they bring back memories all on their own!)  The main smell is of the perfume I was wearing everyday! I spoilt myself and picked up a bottle of DKNY Duty free and smothered myself in that perfume every day! If I ever get a whiff of it when I walk through Myer or David Jones I get transported back to a the land of the green hills and think of places like Kilkenny and Dublin! 

Image viaMartina 

And If I ever hear a Dido track on the radio it reminds me of the terrible street signs in Ireland, my atrocious map reading skills and bickering with my uncle as we would drive around in circle's yelling at each other while listening to the sweet and sometimes sorrowful tones of Dido.... maybe that is why I  not listen to her anymore !! Oh the memories! 

What smells/ tastes/ songs remind you of holidays long ago? 

And while I am at one of my super super  lovely blogging friends has hit with The Liebster award! I have never really received one of these so I'm very flattered!  The Liebster award is for small blogs (less than 200 followers) who inspire. Liebster is German for dearest. 

Lee from Mummy Issues Part2 is one of my favourite bloggers and I was lucky enough to meet her and spend time with her at DPCON12.... She was even more gorgeous, honest and fabulous in person! I love her blog, recipes, theories on life  and her pics on Instagram.. especially her drunk tweet friday night!! I cant wait to see her in person again and get stuck into the wine!! Please have a visit and say hello! 

Now the rules of the Liebster Award are as follows:-

1. Copy and paste the award to your blog.

2. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

3. Choose five blogs to pass the award on to and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

4. Hope that people you have sent the award to forward it on to their favourite bloggers.

So now it's my turn to nominate.. So hard to just say five... and 

apologies if you have been nominated before...

Jayne from Jagger Files

Pip from Bub sweat and tears

Loz from Ninja Tales

Elisa from With Grace and Eve

Amy from The Misadventurous Maker

Until Next time, life is too short from Crap coffee

In 3 weeks time....

In three weeks I'll be on an aeroplane somewhere over the vast Nullabor and on my way to Perth!  This is the first leg my  whirlwind adventure that is taking me to various amazing places around the world! 


I am getting so excited... in 5 weeks Ill be on a train on my way back from Paris.. it is all so surreal that I, me, little old Jane will be there... not my sister, not my parents, not my friends,  - Just me!  
I need this trip on so many levels, and the anticipation that is building is making me realise how much I need it! 

Although thinking about it I cant help to get butterflies,  butterflies in my tummy that I am not organised enough.... little jitters that I will forget my passport, tension that my  flying phobia is growing everyday and  nightmares that I will leave my bridesmaid dress behind!

Most of all the anxiety stems from leaving behind my right hand man... One part of our little team is now going to be on the other side of the world!  There will be so many more cuddles and kisses than I can imagine in the next 3 weeks.... poor Darby will be sick of me smothering him in kisses... but he is so excited for me and it might help him realise the length of time I am away...... All I can say is thank goodness for Skype! 

I am sure I will keep my blog updated  as I go.. if not just to post my photos somewhere and to keep me company if I am sitting in a hotel somewhere in London, Paris and Maurituis....... but who am I kidding, I will be out and about soaking up this experience

Anyone forgotten something really important for a big trip??? Any flight fear tips??? I'm thinking Valium and a Vodka will do the trick! 

Until next time, Lets hope I get my suitcase packed in time....

image found here

Exciting News - I'm going overseas!!!

Oh I have just got to share the news.. I know I hinted at it pretty obviously last week.. But now I can shout it out to the world today.. It's official.. I have handed over the cold hard cash - Drum roll.....      I am going overseas!! Woo hoo!! This is probably the most exciting, scary and liberating thing I have done in as long as I can remember... and I don't even have a current passport yet!! 

Ok I should hold my horses, it's only for  three weeks.. But that three weeks is longer than I ever thought possible!!(the last time I was overseas was in 2011 and I went to Ireland for 3 weeks as my Uncles chaperone for his 50th birthday!!) I have my ticket and am ready to go... only problem is I don't leave until July!  So here is the low down of the trip I have booked:

The real purpose behind my magical trip is for a wedding! I have the honor of getting to be a bridesmaid to one of my very dear friends! She is getting married in Mauritius - a beautiful beach side  place, I can't wait to get here and swim in the blue waters, I have only heard good things and the pictures look soo amazing...  I am here for a week lapping up the wedding celebrations... From here I was just going to come home.. but I knew I would get the itch.. the travelling bug.. As a Sagittarius we are meant to love travel and I thought I was missing this gene, but once I discovered  I was going abroad I needed to go somewhere else .... So from Mauritius I am heading to London (Yay!!), well to a quaint little town called Charlbury near Oxford to be exact to stay with my best friend (the other bridesmaid) for 2 weeks!! 

My friend Shaz... who Ill spend time with in London

My friend Elisha who is getting married!!

 In this time I am going to visit a city most girls just dream to go to- and one I have wanted to go to for as long as I can remember:  Paris!   There are so many things I want to do here... I think I will stay for a few days and explore the city.. as well as drink coffee (hope its good) and eat croissants!!

Yay... how exciting..... and then I may fit in Scotland, a few English day trips and catching up with friends in London... I will also be there with my bestie  who will have a new born baby.. so just hanging out and catching up will be bliss...

But here comes the clincher (I'm taking deep breaths in now thinking about it!) - I am going alone, solo, unescorted, by myself.. No little sidekick, no coffee buddy, just me, only me.. This part scares me to death.. The thought of being on the other side of the world from my little man is excuse the pun- out of this world! I hate it when he is at his dads, who lives just around the corner..
I ummed and ahhed about taking him.. But too many factors made sense for me to leave him in Melbourne.. At this point I am trying not to think about it too much... It's just when someone asks me I tear up and go to pieces!! I am sure I will have plenty of sleepless nights about it...  In the end  I think this will be a confident boosting holiday to help me feel good about me.. (well I'm hoping!!) 

Ok so back to the trip I am on a mission to look fit and fab for my first stint as a bridesmaid so I am going to set myself a challenge for the next 20 weeks.. I'm not sure what yet.. but if you have any ideas on how to get motivated and fit (and lose about 5 kgs) for a time poor single mum, please share!! I'd love to hear!!!


Images via We Heart It 

Anyway I wrote this very fast and with no review so apologies if it is just blah blah... verbal diarrhoea...

Until next time, Life is too short for crappy coffee